§ Mr. Sharpasked the President of the Board of Trade how the costs of collection and the selling price of kitchen waste are determined by his Department when making subsidy payments; by what procedure and to what organisations such payments are made; what is the average subsidy per ton; and the total estimated annual cost.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe maximum price of unboiled kitchen waste has been fixed by statutory order since 1942 at 30s. a ton, and since April 1946 a subsidy of 10s. a ton has been payable in respect of waste delivered by local authorities under direction to concentrator or boiling plants not operated by themselves. The estimated cost of this subsidy is £135,000 a year. Costs of collection are regularly submitted by the local authorities, but the subsidy does not vary according to the cost to the particular authority. In addition, local authorities and private firms operating concentrator plants are eligible to receive a transport allowance of 9d. per ton mile up to 30 miles on their deliveries of concentrate to buyers. The total estimated annual cost of this is £160,000.